Frequently Asked Questions

Our main camp season runs from June 18th to August 10th. We run a post-session minicamp the week of August 13-17. Check here for more info on dates and rates.

Camp is located primarily at the Lafayette Reservoir. We hold our swim program at the Soda Aquatic Center, at Campolindo High School in Moraga and our Riding program at a private ride site in Moraga. If you are looking for directions to our camp locations, check here.

The camp day runs from 9:00 – 3:00 pm. Bus pick up times are between 8:00am – 8:55 am and Drop off is 3:00 – 4:00 pm. We offer before and after camp programs with morning care available at 7:00 am and late afternoon drop offs between 5:20-6:30 pm.

During the summer, the office is open from 7am to 7pm. If you need to reach us before or after hours, email us or call and leave a message and we will get back to you first thing in the morning.

We ask that campers leave any electronics and cell phones at home. Camp is an opportunity for campers to unplug and make real connections with friends and nature. Roughing It a place for children of all ages discover the wonders of the great outdoors.

Along with valuables, toys and trinkets, we also ask that you leave any electronics, accessories, makeup and weapons of any kind at home. Here is a more detailed list of what you should and shouldn’t bring to camp.

Campers should wear comfortable clothes that they can be active in. Closed-toe athletic (tennis) shoes are required! For more detailed guidelines, look here.

Campers should bring their own lunch from home. If a camper attends camp plus, we provide a light snack. For detailed lunch guidelines, check here.

Due to food allergies and dietary needs of our campers, we don’t allow campers to share food with each other.  If your camper has a food allergy, please indicate this on their application so that all staff can be aware.

Campers are grouped by age and gender. For example, all of the girls going into second grade will be in a group together. Campers in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and our CILT programs are co-ed, and are still grouped by age. For a more detailed explanation on how campers are grouped, look here.

Campers are grouped by age and gender. If they are in the same year of school and the same gender, then they will be grouped together, otherwise they will be in their respective age groups. They will be able to connect with each other on the bus to and from camp though, and this will allow them to branch off and meet other campers in their group. For a more detailed explanation on how campers are grouped, look here.

Campers are grouped by age and gender. So if the campers are, for example, both girls going into 4th grade, then they would be in the same group. However, please keep in mind that campers are paired up with new buddies every day in order to build the group community and allow campers to meet and befriend new people. For a more detailed explanation on how campers are grouped, look here.

Definitely not. We love it when camper families bring in new friends to camp, however most of our campers come to camp without knowing other campers. Campers will be paired up from the moment they step onto the bus with a bus-buddy, usually someone who has attended camp before and who can help answer any questions. Campers also get a new buddy every day in their group to help make sure that everyone in the group gets a chance to interact and engage with each other. This helps to build our camp spirit and camp community, and we find these friendships continue summer to summer with campers looking forward to reuniting with their camp friend each June.

We will email this info to you the week before your camp session begins.

We have a wide variety of activities for our camper groups. We offer horseback riding, swimming, and waterfront activites including: canoeing, rowing, and fishing. We also have traditional camp activites including: sports, crafts, environment, and outdoors. We also offer kayaking and adventure for our older campers.

We strongly recommend that campers attend day camp for the entire 4 week session. The reason for this is that campers create bonds with their fellow campers every day and it can be challenging to miss out on those bonding experiences and especially to rejoin a group dynamic after being absent for an extended period of time. Of course, our staff will do all we can to get your camper back in the swing of camp when they return. We do understand that things come up, and we ask that you let us know as soon as possible if a camper is going to be missing camp. We are unable to offer prorated rates or refunds for missed camp.

We have three days throughout the summer where parents can visit camp! Our Fourth of July family day, as well as parents closing circle on the last Thursday of each session are times when parents can come and experience camp with their campers. This is a great time to meet your campers counselor and experience the magic of Roughing It. You can also visit camp at an open house, or schedule a private tour. Please be mindful that camp is designed as a special experience for campers. We ask parents to let us know if they are planning to stop by and keep visits brief.

Please call our office at 925-283-3795 and we will be able to get a message to your camper or their counselor. If you need to speak directly with the counselor, they will be able to return your call as soon as the camp day has ended.

Please call into the office or send us an email as soon as you know that your camper is going to be absent, even if it is the morning of the absence! Our office number is 925-283-3795 or you can email camp@roughingit.com.

Our top-quality, all-adult staff are personally selected by our Roughing It administrative team. Applicants go through rigorous interviewing and reference checks. All staff also participate in a week-long staff training where they prepare for camp. We are proud of our staff and what they contribute to camp, as quality staff really make a difference in the lives of our campers. Look here for more info on our staffing qualifications.

Campers are supervised 100% of the time at Roughing It by our all adult staff. Campers are always with their group counselor. There is also at least one administrator at each of our sites to help supervise as well. In addition, our program staff also serve as additional eyes on the campers. The staff to camper supervision ratio is 4 campers to 1 adult staff.

We have a hot weather plan where we modify activities, bring extra shade and water to the sites and take lots of breaks. Our staff is trained to be aware and on the look-out for signs of over-heating and heat-related-illness prevention.

The average temperate at the reservoir during the summer is 82 degrees. We have hot weather and rain plans in case of a dramatic change in temperature.

Counselors all carry sunscreen which is applied multiple times throughout the day. We apply in the morning, mid day, and before and after swimming and riding. We also encourage all campers and staff to wear hats at all times.

If your camper will need to take medication while at camp, please provide this information on the camper application, or let us know as soon as possible. Parents will provide the medication with instructions and give Roughing It written permission to administer medication (this includes prescriptions as well as over the counter medications). For any medications needed in life threatening situations, such as an Epipen or inhaler, campers will keep these with them. All other medication is kept in a secure medical box at camp and will be administered by a camp administrator as directed. For more info on medication at camp, look here.

Our Day Camp 4-week program is designed as a group experience with longer sessions to give campers more opportunities to learn new skills, form lasting friendships, and bond with their group.

Outdoor Explorers runs in 1-week sessions throughout the summer at the Lafayette Reservoir.

Both are fun outdoor programs with a unique focus, different activities, separate groups and schedules. Here’s a description of each program:

• Roughing It Day Camp ( 4 week sessions for Preschool-10^th graders) offers a wide variety of outdoor activities to challenge campers of all ages including: horseback riding lessons, swimming instruction, canoeing, boating, kayaking, fishing, sports, crafts, nature, hiking, outdoor skills. Campers spend the day with their camper groups, which are based on age/grade and gender (there are separate groups for preschool through 10^th grades). All camp activities are designed for each age/grade level, to build skills for beginner through advanced abilities and to be fun for all ages! Our 4-week day camp program is designed to build friendships, camaraderie, and community. Learn more about Roughing It Day Camp.

• Outdoor Explorers ( 1 week sessions for 1st-6th graders ) is a 1-week program full of outdoor activities exclusively at the Lafayette Reservoir. Outdoor Explorers participate in co-ed mixed-age groups, with separate groups for younger campers and older campers. Included activities are: Fishing, nature exploration, boating, outdoor living skills, hiking, crafts, and games. Horseback Riding and swimming are not included in our 1-week program. Outdoor Explorers spend part of each day enjoying activities with their group and counselor, and 2-3 choice periods every day where they get to select their own activities. Campers who attend multiple sessions of Outdoor Explorers throughout the summer meet different friends each week. Learn more about Outdoor Explorers.

Little Raccoons is a two week introductory program designed to help first time campers get ready for a full session of Day Camp. It is a group-centered experience where campers spend their days with the same counselor and camper group.

In Outdoor Explorers, younger campers and older campers do the majority of activities together. The focus of Outdoor Explorers is on choose-your-own activities, rather than group- or skill-based activities.

• Little Raccoons ( 2 week sessions for Preschool-2nd grades ) is our introductory camp program for young campers in Preschool through 2^nd grades. It is specially designed to provide these younger campers with a more nurturing intro-to-camp experience, with 14 days to develop friendships and learn new skills in a small group setting. Campers are grouped by their age and grade in school. Little Raccoons spend the entire day with their group and counselors doing all the activities together. Little Raccoon activities are taught at an introductory level and their activities include swimming lessons, fishing, boating, sports, hiking, crafts, stories, singing, and games. Horseback Riding and Canoeing are not included in our 2-week program. Learn more about Little Raccoons.
• Outdoor Explorers ( 1 week sessions for 1st-6th graders ) is a 1-week program full of outdoor activities exclusively at the Lafayette Reservoir for 1st-6th graders. Outdoor Explorers participate in co-ed mixed-age groups, with separate groups for younger campers and older campers. Included activities are: Fishing, nature exploration, boating, outdoor living skills, hiking, crafts, and games. Horseback Riding and swimming are not included in our 1-week program. Outdoor Explorers spend part of each day enjoying activities with their group and counselor, and 2-3 choice periods every day where they get to select their own activities. Campers who attend multiple sessions of Outdoor Explorers throughout the summer meet different friends each week. Learn more about Outdoor Explorers.

Both Day Camp and Horse Day Camp include horseback riding instruction, and each offers different activities with a unique focus:

Roughing It Day Camp (4-week sessions / PreK-10th graders) offers a wide variety of outdoor activities to challenge campers of all ages including: horseback riding lessons, swimming, canoeing, boating instruction, fishing, sports, crafts, nature, hiking, and outdoor skills.  Campers spend the day with their camper group, which are based on grade and gender. All camp activities are geared for campers’ specific grade levels, designed to build skills for beginner – advanced abilities and to be fun for all ages! Our 4-week day camp program is designed to build friendships, camaraderie, and community.

Horse Day Camp (2-week sessions / 4th-10th graders) is a two week specialty English Horseback Riding Camp for beginner through advanced riders. Campers spend all day participating in horse activities at our ride site and ranch in Moraga.  Activities include: Two daily English riding lessons, mounted games, horsemanship, vaulting, and horse care.

All day campers in Preschool through CILT groups participate in riding lessons. Campers ride between one and three times per week, depending on their age, and develop their riding skills through 40 minute lessons. Campers are grouped based on their ability level, and they have the same riding counselor for the whole session. We carefully select our riding counselors based on their riding skills and experience teaching children.

4 & 8 Week Day camp is for campers going into PreK through 10th grade, while Little Raccoons is a 2-week program for campers going into PreK and K.  Most children ages PreK and K are able to attend the longer 4 & 8-Week sessions of Day Camp, and these longer sessions give campers more opportunities to learn new skills, form lasting friendships, and bond with their group. Little Raccoons is an introductory program designed to help first-time campers get ready for the longer session of Day Camp. Both programs provide a fun, exciting group-centered experience where campers spend their days outside with the same counselor and camper group. Little Raccoons do all the same activities as Day Camp, with the exception of Horseback Riding, which is exclusive to 4 & 8 Week Day Camp.